- A section of news outlets and social media users shared information purporting at least 17 MPs and senators had been diagnosed with the virus

- The health facility disputed the results noting it had not made public any information regarding tests

- The Ministry of Health too denounced the results

Pathologists at Lancet Kenya Laboratories who conduct COVID-19 tests on MPs and other parliamentary staff have disowned results indicating 17 lawmakers tested positive for the virus.

A section of news outlets and social media users shared information purporting at least 17 MPs and senators had been diagnosed with the virus, and that the results had prompted cancellation of scheduled sittings at the National Assembly.

In a statement released on Wednesday, April 8, Lancet Kenya denied releasing such results and asked the public to treat the information as "false and misleading".

"The purported information circulating in the media about COVID-19 confirmed cases at parliament is completely incorrect, misleading and should be disregarded," said the facility's CEO Ahmed Kalebi.

MPs during a past parliamentary sitting. The house has called off special siting to discuss COVID-19 crisis after reports indicated 17 MPs had tested positive for the virus. Photo: Bunge TV.Source: UGC

The testing further dismissed as entirely false a list of 17 MPs doing rounds on social media who allegedly tested positive for the disease.

Lancet Kenya said results for COVID-19 are issued individually and no one can purport to be aware of another person's results apart from the Ministry of Health.

The health ministry too denounced the results saying it was not aware of such a report and asked the public to treat any information coming outside the ministry as untrue.

Cabinet Administrative Secretary (CAS) Mercy Mwangangi said the ministry had only learnt about the report through the media.

"What we have to say on this matter is that as it stands today and at this time, we have no official reporting of these cases to the Ministry of Health,” she said.

A section of MPs had also cast aspersions on the results accusing the government of trying to use the outcome to scare away MPs from holding special sittings to discuss issues affecting Kenyans.

Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma and his Nyali counterpart Mohamed Ali alias Jicho Pevu, claimed the Executive was looking for ways to ensure the Parliament did not sit to debate coronavirus tax measures.

"Coronavirus in Parliament, not within the Executive and Judiciary. Even corona knows it's parliament to go for in Kenya. I hope this is not some gimmick by the Executive through the media to avoid oversight!" tweeted Kaluma.

Ali separately seconded Kaluma's view accusing the executive of trying to undermine and jeopardise operations of the National Assembly for its own selfish interests.

"Someone wants to continue bypassing the constitution to siphon funds meant for coronavirus. This is possible if parliament is not sitting so that they take over roles of National Assembly and run everything through decree. Leak fake information of 17 MP’s, have a reason not to allow parliament to resume," charged the Nyali lawmaker.

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